Mechanical pencil



June 13, 1933. J. KOKSCHAROFF MECHANICAL PENC IL Filed Oct. 25, 1950 Patented June 13,1933- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHANN KOKSGHAROFF, OI BERLIN, GERMANY, ABBIGNOB TO THE WAHL COHPAN 'Y, OF CHICAGO, HJL'INOIS, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE macnamcar. PENCIL Application filed October 28, 1930, Serial No.

struction which will be effective to advance the lead sticks to writing position positively and to project the lead from the writing tip to any desired extent, said construction being of a simple character and being susceptible of embodiment in a very sturdy structure within a very small cross-sectional area. Another object is the provision of such a construction in which the lead in writing position will be held securely-against wabbling 'or lateral movement with respect to the pencil barrel when the pencil is employed in writing.

Yet another object is the provision of a construction having the characteristics above pointed out and which may be very easily assembled; i

Other and further objects will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter, or will be apparent upon an understanding of the invention or its employment in use. I

For aid in an explanation of the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specification, and hereinafter described, certain structural forms in which the invention may be embodied. It is to be understood, however, that these particular embodiments are here presented for purpose of exemplification, and'hence' are not to be construed in any fashion calculated to limit the appended claims short of the true and most comprehensive scope of the invention in the art.

- In said drawing, 1 50 -Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of Another object is the provision of a contion of the tip, as illustrated.

1190,778, and in Germany January 18, 1 880.

the same construction with the magazine cover in place and the lead-propelling traveler in an advanced position;

Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal sectional view of a modified construction embodying the inventlon;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lead guide tube and lead-propelling traveler of further modified form;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on approximately line VV of Fig. 1;

ig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on approximately line VI-VI of Fig. 2;

Fi 7 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately on line VII-'VII. of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the leadpropellin traveler shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

An un erstanding of the invention may be gained most quickly from a detailed consideration of the embodiment here illustrated, and which will now be described.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the pencil includes a suitable slender hollow bar'- rel 1 which is tapered at its lower end and has a tapered tip 2 abuttin its lower end, which tip affords a bore for the passage of the lead stick and is split so as to resil ently clasp a lead stick of roper size in its bore. Rotatably mounted in the hollow barrel and extendin throughout a substantial portion thereo is a sleeve 3 havin its upper portion of generally cylindrical orm and its lowerportion formed with an internal screw thread 8. A lead guide tube 4 is mounted on the tip 2, as b having its lower end screwed into a counter red and threaded upgier porixedly mounted on the up r end of the lead guide tube is a disk 10 0 such diameter as to ex-' tend outwardly from the lead guide tube into association with the encompassing wall of the rotatable sleeve 3. This disk is provided with a central a erture 18 in alignment with the bore of the ead guide tube, and has its projecting lugsi 25, so formed and arra I upper surface dished or sloping toward said aperture. Thesleeve 3 is retained against withdrawal from the barrel by an inwardly pressed bead 11 which disk 10. At its lower en the sleeve 3 abuts a spacer 9 which encompasses the lead guide tube and is limited a xiinst upward movement by an outwardl displaced lu 12. This spacer is ada for non-rotate le coo ration with hot the barrel'l and the tn 4, and is thus adaptedto prevent relative rotation of said parts. v

The lead guide tube is slotted longitudinally through one side, the slot being indicated by the reference numeral 26,whereby the circular continuity of ,the tube is inteirru'pted and the tube flatted in effect, as illustrated in Fig. 7 A leadropelling traveler" 5 is mounted on the tu so as to slide longitudinally thereon. This traveler is in the nature of a. split sleeve, as seen in Fig. 8, conforming in contour tothe flatted contour of the lead guide tube, by virtue of which form it is held against rotation on the tube. This traveler carries a lead-engaging member 6, in the form of a pawl or tongue, which is ada ted to travel in the slot 26 of the lead gui e tube,

' and which is elastically prewed to urge its lower end or nose portion to a position Within the bore of the lead guide tube, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Below the lower end of this lead-engaging member, the traveler carries a lug 24 adapted to ride in theslot 26 without extending into the boreof the tube. The traveler is also provided with outwardg as to meshs ably in the thread 8 of the rotatable sleeve 3.

-Accordingly, upon rotation of the sleeve 3, the traveler will be propelled longitudinally on the lead guide tube, downwardly when the sleeve is rotated in one direction,

and upwardly when it is rotated in the o posite direction. The lead guide tube, it W1 1 be observed, remains stationary with the tip and barrel relative to the sleeve 3 when the latter is rotated, and the disk 10 likewise remains stationary with the lead gu-ide tube.

The upper portion of the sleeve 3, above the disk 10, constitutes the wall of the lead zine, the disk 10 forming the bottom of sa1 magazine. Accordingly, it will be observed, the wall of the ma zine rotates with respect to the bottom of t e magazine when the sleeve 3 is rotated to propel the traveler.

'This magazine is adaps d to accommodate a plurah of lead stic which rest at their lower on on the disk 10. Lead sticks ofpropensize are adapted to, pass singly and successively from the magazine through the aperture 18 and into the bore of the lead guide tube.

7 The slot 26 of the lead guide tube .termi.. nated or closed short of the upper end of said tube, as by a short tube section 7 inserted in projects under the 1 a counterbored portion of the lead guide tube, said short tube section having its bore in alignment with the bore of the lead guide tube. Accordingly, when the traveler is retracted to its up r position, the lead-engaging member 6 wi be moved mto contact with the lower end portion of the tube 7 and retracted entirely from the bore of the tube, to a position as illustrated in Fig. 1.- This leaves the bore clear and unobstructed so as to accommodate free assage of lead sticks .L lon itudinally therein. Lead sticks which pass roin the magazine through the aperture 18 are thus permitted to feed by gravity downwardly in the lead guide tube. When the tube 3 is rotated to propel the traveler toward the tip, the lower end of the leadengaging member 6 will ride oil of the tube section 7 and drop into the bore of the lead guide tube, where it will engage against the upper end of a lead-stick therein, and, upon further movement of the traveler toward the tip, will push the lead stick through the tipbore.- The lead maybe thus propelled from time to time as required for/writing.

In order to induce or facilitate the passage of the lead sticks from the 'magazine through the aperture 18, there is provided in the magazine a vane or lead-positioning member 17 which extends inwardly into the magazine from the magazine wall. Upon rotation of the sleeve 3, this lead-positioning member engages adjacent lead sticks and tendsto propel them aroun tom and toward the xial aperture 18. This has the efiect of inducing the lead sticks to enter the aperture 18, and is of particular advantage in that respect when the pencil-1s operated in a sloping position.

The magazine cover or cap 19 has a sleeve on the magazine hot-- portion 20 adapted to fit the upper end of the sleeve 3 which projects beyond the upper end of the barrel, and is provided with an inwardly projecting lug 21 adapted, when the cover is placed in position, to pass through a groove 22 and engage in a-seat 23, pressed-inwardly in the wall of the sleeve 3, thereby keying the cap to the sleeve so that the latter may be rotated by suitable manipulation of the cap. This keying engagement is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

In 0 ration of the device, the magazine being oaded with a plurality of lead sticks and the device being grasped by the barrel and held with the point downward, rotation of the cap in a counterclockwise direction will rotate the sleeve 3, and move the traveler upwardly on the lead guide tube. With such rotation of the sleeve 3, the lead positioning member 17 will engage lead sticks and move them around on the magazine bottom, and displace them toward the aperture 18, facilitating their passage successively through that apertureand into the lead guide tube, down which they will slide by. gravity until the lowermost lead stick is stopped at the restricted bore of the tip. The direction of rotation of the cap being then reversed, the trav- V eler will be moved downwardly on the lead guide tube, the nose or the pawl 6 will slide off of the lower endflof the tube section 7 and drop through slot 26 and, with continuation of rotation of the sleeve 3, will engage against the upper end of a lead stickin the When the lower end of the traveler contactsthe spacer 9, the end of the advancing movement of the traveler will be reached. Thereupon the rotation of the cap and sleeve 3 in the reverse direction will move the traveler upwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 1,'

thus permitting the feed of additional lead sticks from the magazine into, the lead guide tube, whereupon the pencil is again ready for operation to advance the lead to writing position. In the lead propelling operation, the lug,24 of the traveler slides in the slot 26 of the lead guide tube ahead of the lead-engaging member 6, in which relationship it is adapted to function as a stop to prevent the upper end of the lead stick from being wedged outwardly into the slot by the propelling pressure of the lead-engaging member. This lug 24 is alsoadapted to function as a stop to limit the u ward movement ofrthe traveler when said ug comes into engagement with the end of the tube'section 7 In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modified. construction, the barrel being designated 1, the rotatable sleeve 3, and the lead guide tube being designated 4'. In this construction the lead guide tube is provided with a plurality of longltudinal slots at different circumferential locations, said slots being designated 26' and 26", and the traveler 5' is provided with a plurality of tongues 6' and 6", which operatethrough respective slots in the manner above described. In Fig. 3 the lead-engaging members are shown at positions 180 apart, while in Fig. 4 they are shown at a .90 relationship. In such a construction having a plurality of lead-engaging members at different positions longitudinally of the traveler, a'lead stick may be fed to the full length of travel of the traveler when the upper end of the lead stick is engaged by the upper lead-engaging member, andthe'i may be further advanced after a lower lead-engaging member hasbeen brought into engagement with its upper end by a sufficient retraction of the traveler. The reverse movement of the traveler in this instance need not be the full length of a lead stick, the actual distance requisite for such reverse movement pf the traveler being dependent, of course,-on the distance which the successive lead-engaging members are spaced apart longitudinally of the traveler.

In assembling the device, the traveler is slipped onto the lead guide tube and the latter inserted into the sleeve 3 at the upper end, the spacer 9 is slipped onto the lead guide tube at the lower end, and the parts thus assembled are inserted into the barrel at its upper end. The tip 2 is then inserted into the lower end of the barrel and screwed onto the lower end of the lead guide tube. This secures the parts in assembled relationship.

The drawings being merely illustrative, it

will be appreciated that in some places space end of the lead guide tube to form the magazine bottom extending into association w1th said magazine wall, said disk having a central aperture therethrough in alignment with the bore of the lead guide tube, means operable by rotation of the sleeve relative to the lead guide tube to propel a lead stick in the latter, and means within the magazine and operable incident to rotation of said tube to vefi'ect movement of lead sticks in the magazine toward said aperture.

2. In a mechanical pencil, in combination, a hollow barrel portion, means for guiding a lead stick therein, a sleeve mounted rotatably in said barrel portion and having a part forming a magazine wall, a magazine bottom having a central aperture, a lead guide tube having communication with the magazine through said aperture, and means operable incident to rotation of said sleeve to effect movement of lead sticks in the magazine toward said a erture. 3. In a mec anical ncil, in combination, a lead guide tube, a s eeve rotatable relative thereto, said sleeve having a portion forming a hollow barrel portion, a lead guide tube vmounted therein, said lead guide tube being longitudinally slotted and flatted at one side, a traveler slidable longitudinally on'the lead guide tube and fitting the flatted contour thereof so as to be non-rotatable on said tube,

0f the tube through said slot and adapted to travel longitudinally in the bore upon longitudinal movement of the traveler on the tube, and means for moving the traveler longitudinally on the tube to propel a lead stick 1 in the latter.

5. In a mechanical pencil, the combination as specified in claim 4 and including also a lug mounted on the traveler and adapted to travel in the slot of the lead guide tube ahead of the lead-engaging member in the lead-propelling movement of the traveler.

6. In a mechanical pencil, in combination, a hollow barrel portion having a leadguide tube non-rotatably mounted therein, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the barrel portion and encompassing the lead guide tube throughout the greater proportion of its length, said sleeve having a portion extending above the upper end of the lead guide tube and forming the wall of a leadmagaziue, a bottom for the lead magazine having a central aperture for passage of lead sticks from the magazine into the lead guide tube, a traveler mounted to slide longitudinally but non-rotatably on the lead guide tube, the lead guide tube being provided with a longitudinal slot, a leadengaging member carried on the traveler and adapted to extend through said slot and into engagement with the upper end of a 'lead stick in the lead guide tube, the sleeve being provided with a screw thread in its portion which encompasses the lead guide tube and the traveler having a portion meshing with said thread whereby the traveler may be moved longitudinally for the greater proportion of the length of the lead guide tube by rotation of the sleeve.

7 In a mechanical pencil, in combination, a hollow barrel portion having a writing tip at its lower end, a lead guide tube screw threaded to said tip and extending upwardly therefrom within the barrel portion, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the barrel portion in encompassing relationship to the lead guide tube and having a portion extending above the upper end of the latter and forming the wall of a lead magazine, a bottom for said lead magazine mounted on the upper end of the lead guide tube and provided with an opening for passage of a lead stick from the magazine into the lead guide tube, a traveler slidable longitudinally on the lead guide tube, a lead-engaging member on the traveler for engaging a lead stick in said tube, and means operatively connecting the sleeve and traveler whereby rotation of the sleeve will propel the traveler longitudinally between the sleeve and lead guide tube.

8. In mechanical pencil construction, the combination as specified in claim 7 and upwardl wherein said rotatable sleeve has a portion extending beyond the upper end of the barrel, whereby it may be manipulated to rotate it within the barrel.

9. In a mechanical pencil, in combination, a tip for holding a lead stick in writing position, a slotted lead guide tube non-rotatably secured to said tip and extending upwardly therefrom, a tubular member encompassing the lead guide tube throu bout the greater proportion of its length an extending above the upper end of the same to form the wall of a lead magazine, a bottom for the lead magazine carried on the upper end of the lead guide tube and provided with an aperture whereby a lead stick may pass from the mag azine into the lead guide tube, a traveler mounted to slide longitudinally on the lead guide tube, a lead-engaging member on the traveler adapted for engagement with a lead stick in the lead guide tube, said tubular" member being rotatable relative to the lead guide tube and tip, and means operatively connectin the traveler and tubular member whereby t e former will be moved longitudinally by rotation of the latter.

10. In a mechanical encil, in combination, a tip for holding a ead stickin writing position, a slotted leadguide tube extending from said tip, a traveler slidable longitudinally but non-rotatably on said lead guide tube, a lurality of lead-engaging members carrie by the traveler in spaced relationship longitudinally thereof, said lead-engaglng members adapted to travel in slotted portions of the tube and'to engage lead sticks positioned in the bore of said tube, a sleeve encompassing the traveler and lead guide tube and extending above the upper end of the latter to form the wall of a leadmagazine, said magazine having communication with the bore of the lead uide tube at the upper end of the latter, 'sai sleeve being a sleeve mounted rotatably within the barrel in' encompassing l relationship to the lead guide tube and aving a portion extending above the upper end thereof to form the wall of a lead magazine, a disk secured to the upper end of the lead guide tube and extending outwardly therefrom into association with the magazine wall, said disk being provided with an aperture for passage of a lead stick from the magazine into the lead guide tube, means operable by rotation of the sleeve for propelling a lead stick longitudinally in the lead guide tube, said sleeve being proyided with means for cooperation with said disk. to hold the sleeve against withdrawal from the barrel. 12. In a mechanical pencil, in combination a rotatable sleeve having its lower portion screw threaded ranged to form the wall of a lead magazine, a slotted lead guide tube extending axially within said sleeve, a lead-holding tip secured to the lower end of said lead guide tube, a disk secured to the upper end of said lead guide tube and forming the bottom of the lead magazine, said disk being provided with a central aperture permitting passage of a lead stick from themagazine into the lead guide tube, a traveler slidable longitudinally on the lead guide tube from a position adjacent said disk to a position adjacent said tip, a lead-engaging member carried by the traveler and movable in the slot of the lead guide tube to propel a lead stick therein, and means operatively connecting the traveler and sleeve whereby the former is propelled longitudinally upon rotation of the latter. W

13. Ina mechanical pencil, in combination, a hollow barrel portion, a lead-supporting tip abutting the lower end of said barrel, a lead guide tube screw threaded to the tip and extending axially within theb'arrel, a"

member securedto' and extending outwardly from the lead guide tube, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the-barrel and encompassing the tion,

lead guide tube, said sleeve having an inwardly extending part adapted for cooperation with said member to retain said sleeve against withdrawal from the barrel, the upper part of said sleeve forming the wall of a lead magazine having communication at its bottom with the upper end of the bore of the leadguide tube, and lead feeding means cooperating with said sleeve and lead guide tube whereby a lead stick may be propelled longitudinally in the latter by rotation of said sleeve relative to the lead guide tube.

14. In a mechanical pencil, in combinaa hollow barrel portion, tube mounted therein and extending axially thereof, said lead guide tube being longitudinally slotted at one side so that its width is thereby reduced, a traveler embracing the lead guide tube and slidable longitudinally thereon and having a. flatted ortion engaging the rooved side thereo whereby the traveler is held against rotation on the lead guide tube, a lead-engaging member mounted on the travelerat the flatted side thereof and adapted to extend into the lead. guide tube through the slot therein, .a sleeve rotatably mounted in the barrel in encompassing relationship to the traveler and lead guide tube, said sleeve and traveler having operative connection whereby the former may be moved longitudinally on the lead guide tube by rotation of the sleeve.

15. In a mechanical pencil, in combinaand its upper portion ara lead guide tion, a lead-holding ti a lead guide tube afiixed thereto, a rotata le sleeve encompassing the lead guide tube and having its upper portion extending above the upper end thereof to form the wall of a lead magazine, a bottom for said lead magazine aflixed to the upper end of the lead guide tube and having an aperture permitting passage of lead sticks singly from the magazine into the lead guide tube, lead-feeding tion of said sleeve relative to the lead guide tube-to propel a lead' stick in the latter, and means in the magazine and operable incident to rotation of said sleeve to move lead sticks circuitously in the magazine.

- 16. In mechanical pencil construction, in combination, a hollow barrel portion having .a tapered lower end, a sleeve arranged roguide tube, a spacer tip from the lead guidetube.

18. In a mechanical pencil, a lead-propelling eIement comprising a tubular sleeve having formed thereon a laterally projecting thread, said sleeve having a flatted side and a lead-engaging element movable intothe sleeve bore.

In testimony JOHANN KOKSC whereof I afiix m signature.

AROFF.

means operable by rota for meshing cooperation with a screwsleeve to prevent its 1 movement upwardly relative to the lead- 

